Spring 2019
Developing A Golf Course Nutrient Management Plan
Save the Date for the University of Maryland’s Turfgrass Research Field Day!
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Contents • Spring 2019 12 Upcoming Event
18 Cover Story
University of Maryland Turfgrass Research Field Day
Developing a Golf Course Nutrient Management Program
14 Feature Story
24 Recent Event
New Technology to Improve Turfgrass Management Efficiency? The Future May Be Here!
Congratulations, UMD Turf Terps! 3rd Place at STMA Student Challenge
Departments 6 President’s Message 10 Executive Director’s Corner 11 2019 Membership Dues and Turfgrass Education Sponsor Form 12 Calendar of Events 26 Maryland Turf Team 26 Index of Advertisers
MTC Turf News is the Maryland Turfgrass Council magazine. Subscriptions are complimentary to MTC members. The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the association, its staff, its board of directors, MTC Turf News, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or their identification as MTC members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in any issue of MTC Turf News. Copyright © 2019 by the Maryland Turfgrass Council. MTC Turf News is published quarterly. Presorted standard postage is paid at Jefferson City, MO. Printed in the U.S.A. Reprints and Submissions: MTC allows reprinting of material published here. Permission requests should be directed to MTC. We are not responsible for unsolicited freelance manuscripts and photographs. Contact the managing editor for contribution information. Advertising: For advertising rates and insertions, please contact Leading Edge Communications, LLC, 206 Bridge Street, Franklin, TN 37064, (615) 790-3718, Fax (615) 794-4524.
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MTC Turf News
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President’s Message
Position Changes to MTC Board
At
the MTC Annual Meeting during the Annual Winter Conference at Turf Valley Resort in December, David Coble (Anne Arundel County Turf), Geoffrey Rinehart (IAA), and Shaun Meredith (Calvert County Rec & Parks) were voted onto the Board as three-year Directors. Amanda Stillwagon (Anne Arundel County Horticulturalist) was elected to a two-year Director position, filling a vacancy, and Doug Lechlider (Laytonsville Landscaping) filling a one-year vacancy. This fully filled the 14-member Board. As we began the new year, two of our new Board Members had employment opportunities arise which changed their ability to serve on the Board. David Coble and Geoffrey Rinehart resigned their positions on the Board with David totally leaving and Geoff moving into an advisor position representing the University of Maryland and the IAA. We were fortunate to find excellent, qualified replacements for both Board positions. Keith Bowman of McHale Landscape Design and Matt Coates of the Washington Nationals Baseball facility have agreed to serve and have been officially appointed to fill the vacant three-year positions, bringing the Board back to full strength once again. Another positive change was made regarding our payment processing. Due to increased fees and other difficulties with PayPal, the Board has investigated, studied and researched other secure applications and has chosen to utilize Payeeze from PNC Bank. The costs are reduced by nearly 50% and the process is much quicker, simpler and better meets our needs. Ben Ellis, our Web Master, is working with our Web Provider to allow you to enter your credit card on the site. Meanwhile, you may either download the forms from our website or contact Vernon (410-745-9643 office, 443-742-6618 cell, 410-745-8867 fax, or ExecDir@MDTurfCouncil.com) for blank forms which you can complete and e-mail, fax, or mail to Vernon with either your check made out to MTC or your credit card information to process. You will receive an e-mailed receipt as soon as the credit card is processed.
MD Pesticide & MD Fertilizer Applicator Licenses Expire June 30 Just as every year, your MD Pesticide and MD Fertilizer Applicator License EXPIRE at midnight on June 30. The MTC is once again offering a combined PROCRASTINATORS MD Pesticide and MD Fertilizer Applicator Recertification Class on Friday, June 21 at the University of MD Turf Research Farm in College Park. The space limits the class to 30 and if you wish to also get credits for surrounding states, please register as early as you can. The application for June 21 class is included in this magazine on page 8 for your convenience. Cost is FREE for MTC members and $65 for non-members. Lunch is provided for $15. Return forms and any questions to Vernon, our Executive Director. See you at the Field Day,
Jamie Roell MTC President 6
MTC Turf News
MARYLAND TURFGRASS COUNCIL 303 S. Talbot St. #389 St. Michaels, MD 21663 ExecDir@MDTurfCouncil.com www.mdturfcouncil.org MTC Turf News is published quarterly for the MTC by: Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge St. Franklin, TN 37064 Phone: 615-790-3718 Fax: 615-794-4524 info@leadingedge communications.com
2019 MTC Officers & Board of Directors President Jamie Roell AA Co, Rec & Parks 1010 Kinder Farm Rd. Millersville, MD 21108 Rproel09@aacounty.org jamroell@verizon.net Work: 410-222-6250 Cell: 443-370-2582 Fax: 410-222-6138
Vice President Ben Ellis Paint Branch Golf Course 2806 Brewster Rd. Waldorf, MD 20601 Cell: 571-340-0122 Office: 301-935-5184 golfturf54@gmail.com ben.ellis@pgparks.com
Secretary Cheryl Gaultney 12 Pressie Lane Churchville, MD 21028 Home: 410-734-0650 Cell: 410-322-8275 Sandqueen10@aol.com
THREE-YEAR DIRECTORS Keith Bowman McHale Landscape Design 6212 Leapley Rd Upper Marlboro, MD 20722 Cell: 240-375-8753 keithb@mchale landscape.com Matt Coates Washington Nationals Baseball 1500 S. Capitol St. S.E. Washington, DC 20003 Office: 202-640-7545 Cell: 202-731-4774 Matt.Coates@Nationals.com Shaun Meredith Calvert County Rec & Parks 175 Main Street Prince Frederick, MD 20678 Cell: 410-610-9007 Office: 410-535-1600 Shaun.Meredith@ calvertcountymd.gov
TWO-YEAR DIRECTORS Brandon Sands MNCPPC M&D Randall Farm 4200 Ritchie Marlboro Rd Upper Marlboro, MD 20772 Office: 301-780-2426 Cell: 240-821-7139 Brandon.sands@ pgparks.com
Treasurer
Kim Bohn Newsom Seed 209 Spruce Ave. Edgewater, MD 21037 Cell: 443-875-5533 kimberly@newsonseed.com
Katy Cooper 303. S. Talbot St. #389 St. Michaels, MD 21663 Office: 410-745-9643 Fax: 410-745-8867 Cell: 443-496-0750 treasurer@ MDTurfCouncil.com
Amanda Stillwagon Anne Arundel Co. Rec & Parks 1 Harry S Truman Parkway Annapolis, MD 21401 410-553-7663 Cell: 704-877-8810 rpstil00@aacounty.org
Past President
ONE-YEAR DIRECTORS
Bill Warpinski Central Sod Farms 920 John Brown Rd. Centreville,MD 21617 Work: 800-866-1387 Work: 410-827-5000 Cell: 410-320-7791 bill@centralsodmd.com
Executive Director Vernon Cooper All States Turf Consultant 303 S. Talbot St. #389 St. Michaels, MD 21663 Office: 410-745-9643 Cell: 443-742-6618 Fax: 410-745-8867 execdir@MDTurfcouncil.com
Perry Whaley Newsom Seed P.O. Box 510 11788 Scaggsville Rd. Fulton, MD 20759 Office: 240-554-0359 Perry@newsomseeed.com Chuck Wilkes Independent 1603 Landon Rd. Towson, MD 21204 Cell: 443-791-8796 Doug Lechlider Laytonsville Landscaping P.O. Box 5216 Laytonsville, MD 20882 Work: 301-253-1481 301-523-0546 Cell: 240-372-2788 doug@laytonsville landscaping.com
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Recertification Registration
2019 Turfgrass Educational Sponsors Advocate Sponsors Chesapeake Valley Seeds
The Maryland Turfgrass Council & The University of Maryland Turfgrass Programs YOU are invited to attend ONE (1) Class and obtain ALL your yearly License Certifications MD Pesticide Recertification (credits for 3A, 3C, 6, 10) Both Private and Commercial MD Professional Fertilizer Applicator Recertification Class (2 CEU credits) and MD Agricultural Nutrient Management (2 CEU credits)
Friday, June 21 from 9:00 to 3:00 (Registration at 8:15)
Genesis Turfgrass
University of Maryland Turfgrass Research Farm 395 Greenmeade Dr. College Park, MD 20742 Class is limited to first 30 registered.
Landscape Supply, VA Newsom Seed Benefactor Sponsors SiteOne Supporter Sponsor Syngenta
Please Complete & Mail or E-Mail or Fax to information below.
Cost – Including Lunch and Morning Coffee MTC Members............................................................................................................................ $15 Non-Members............................................................................................................................ $65 Name | Email Address | Company Name | Mailing Address |
Backer Sponsor Central Sod Farms
City |
State | Zip |
Phone |
Cell |
Pest Control Certificate # |
Last 4 #Soc. Sec. |
Professional Fertilizer Applicator # PFA
Patron Sponsor J. Craver Kenwood Golf & CC D. Goodwin Harford Co Parks & Rec MTA (Sod Growers) Larry Ott Retired 8
MTC Turf News
Payment Type Check made to MTC
Credit Card (MC or Visa)
Total Payment |
Name as it appears on credit card | Address where card is billed | Card Number | Exp. Date |
3 or 4 digit code |
Send To Vernon W. Cooper, Exec. Dir. Or ExecDir@MDTurfCouncil.com Maryland Turfgrass Council Office: 410-745-9643 303 S. Talbot St. # 389 Fax: 410-745-8867 St. Michaels, MD 21663 Cell: 443-742-6618
Spring 2019
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Executive Director’s Corner
All Turfgrass Professionals Involved in the Maryland Turfgrass Industry
Our
Dues and Sponsorship year began Feb. 1. Membership is the primary function used to raise funds your elected Board of Directors utilize to monitor the legislative action across the state, promote turfgrass use and support Turfgrass Research and Education at the University of Maryland. To join, pay your dues or become a Sponsor, simply complete and return the combined “2019 Dues and Turfgrass Education Sponsor Form” on page 11.
As MTC Members and Turfgrass Education Sponsors you too are eligible for benefits. Members get discounts at all MTC functions, plus free recertification courses for Pesticide and Fertilizer Applicator recertification classes offered by the MTC at MD locations. MD combined Pesticide and Fertilizer Applicator recertification classes sponsored by the MTC and the U of MD scheduled for 2019 can be found in the Calendar of events in this magazine (on page 12) or on our web page: www.MDTurfCouncil.org As a “Turfgrass Education Sponsor” your benefits increase with the level you wish to participate. This is a great opportunity to get your name in front of your peers, while helping promote Turfgrass Education and Turfgrass Research. These funds are used by the MTC to help expand Turfgrass Education working closely with the University of Maryland Turf Programs in College Park. We are inviting YOU to become a:
2019 Patron Sponsor. Provide a donation of whatever amount you feel comfortable giving. We will list your company as “Patron Sponsor” on our letterhead and web page. J. Craver (Kenwood Golf & CC), D. Goodwin (Harford Co. Parks & Rec), MTA (Sod Growers) and Larry Ott (retired) have already become Patron Sponsors.
2019 Backer Sponsor with a $250 donation. Receive Patron benefits plus signs showing your company name at all the MTC Sponsored Pesticide and Fertilizer Applicator Recertification Classes, and other MTC events. Central Sod Farms has become a Backer Sponsor.
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2019 Supporter Sponsor with a $500 donation. Get “Backer Sponsor” benefits, plus you will be encouraged to display a table top display at all the functions FREE of CHARGE (except the Turf Conference at Turf Valley). Syngenta has become a Supporter Sponsor.
2019 Benefactor Sponsor with a $1000 donation. Benefits of “Supporter Sponsors” plus we will list your company name on our web page linking it to your own web page and all e-blasts we do throughout the year. Additionally, you will be entitled to do a single annual advertisement blast for your company through our database. SiteOne has become a Benefactor Sponsor.
2019 Advocate Sponsor with a $2500 donation. As an “Advocate Sponsor” you will be listed on all the sponsor’s signs, be encouraged to display a table top display at all the functions listed on “Benefactor Sponsor” below FREE of CHARGE and we will list your company name on our letterhead, plus we will list your company name and web page with a link to your web page on our web “Sponsors” page and all e-blasts we do throughout the year. Quarterly, we will blast an advertisement to our blast list of your choice. Additionally, you will be entitled to exhibit FREE of CHARGE using a single booth at the “Annual Winter Turf Conference and Trade Show” at Turf Valley in Dec. Chesapeake Valley Seeds; Genesis Turfgrass; Landscape Supply, VA; and Newsom Seed are all Advocate Sponsors. Please complete the combined, single page Membership Dues and Turfgrass Education Sponsor Form and return it as soon as possible. Please be generous and be a “2019 Turfgrass Education Sponsor” and help us continue supporting the University of Maryland Turfgrass Programs for years to come as the University of Maryland Turfgrass Programs continue to support us. There is still plenty of time and space for YOU to also become an Educational Sponsor.
Vernon W. Cooper MTC Executive Director
Membership Renewal
Maryland Turfgrass Council 2019 Membership Dues and Turfgrass Education Sponsor Form MTC Dues and Sponsor year is February 1, 2019 to January 31, 2020. Thanks for your continued support! Name | Company Name | (Please x your choice) |
Home Address or
Company Address
Address | City |
State | Zip |
Email Address |
Phone |
TYPE of MTC MEMBERSHIP Individual Member.................................................................................................................................................................. $50 Student/Educator/Retiree Member.......................................................................................................................................... $15 Master Gardener/Non-Profit Volunteer Member...................................................................................................................... $25 Public Agency (First 10 Employees per County or Location)*.................................................................................................. $150 Additional employees above 10.............................................................................................................................................. $15 (each) Business: • (1–5 employees)*................................................................................................................................................................ $175 (Bronze) • (6–10 employees)*.............................................................................................................................................................. $350 (Silver) • (11–15 employees)*............................................................................................................................................................ $500 (Gold) • (16 –20 employees)*........................................................................................................................................................... $1,000 (Platinum) • (21+ employees)*............................................................................................................................................................... $1,500 (Palladium) Additional Company Members: (Please list on back or attach a listing of additional members with addresses, e-mail, and phone numbers if different)*
TYPE of Turfgrass Education Sponsors Advocate
Help us help the University of Maryland....................................................................................................... $2,500
Benefactor
Spread the importance of Turfgrass Education............................................................................................ $1,000
Supporter
................................................................................................................................................................... $500
Backer
(Sponsor benefits are listed on page 10)..................................................................................................... $250
Patron
(whatever amount you can help with is greatly appreciated)....................................................................... $_____________
Payment Type Check made to MTC
(Dues and Sponsorships may be combined in a single payment) Credit Card (MC or Visa)
Total Payment |
Name as it appears on credit card | Address where card is billed | Card Number | Exp. Date |
3 or 4 digit code |
Send To Vernon W. Cooper, Exec. Dir. Or ExecDir@MDTurfCouncil.com Maryland Turfgrass Council Office: 410-745-9643 303 S. Talbot St. # 389 Fax: 410-745-8867 St. Michaels, MD 21663 Cell: 443-742-6618 Spring 2019
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Upcoming Events
Don’t Miss the
University of Maryland Turfgrass Research Field Day Wednesday July 17, 2019
The
University of Maryland Turfgrass Research Field Day will be held this year on Wednesday July 17 from 12:00 to 5:00pm. The event will begin with registration and poster presentations highlighting recent lab projects from the turfgrass pathology group, along with updated information regarding the Maryland Department of Agriculture Nutrient Management and Pesticide Guidelines. Following registration, the day will proceed with a three-hour walking tour of ongoing field research projects underway at the research facility. If you are interested in the most recent, cutting-edge research to better manage turfgrass in the region, this event is for you. In 2018, the UMD Turfgrass Research Team presented over 30 different field projects including cool and warm season cultivar selection, evaluations of new products for managing turfgrass diseases, and bio-based options for both weed and disease control. Whether you manage home lawns, landscapes, sports fields, or golf courses, this event will have valuable information for you to implement at your facility. Pesticide recertification credits were awarded in 2018 for Maryland, Delaware, District of Columbia, and Virginia as well as Professional Fertilizer Applicator recertification credits for Maryland. We anticipate similar credit options for the 2019 program. The event ends with a spectacular meal of crab and barbecue with great conversation among friends and colleagues. Mark your calendars and stay tuned with UMD Turf and the MTC for additional details as the event approaches! •
2018 Field Day
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June 21 Procrastinator’s Pesticide and Fertilizer Applicator Recertification Univ of MD Turf Research Farm College Park, MD
July 17 Univ. of MD Turfgrass Field Day College Park, MD Plus, Early Bird Pesticide and Fertilizer Applicator Recertification
August 21 Eastern Shore Pesticide and Fertilizer Applicator Recertification Talbot Agriculture & Education Center Easton, MD
December 10 Winter Turfgrass Educational Conference and Trade Show Turf Valley Resort Ellicott City, MD Pesticide and Fertilizer Applicator Recertification
Keep watching our web page for additional events! www.mdturfcouncil.org
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For support, please contact your local representative. Tom Walsh MD/Northern VA 410-375-7226 tom.walsh@nutrien.com
Fred Heinlen Eastern Shore 443-669-4284 fred.heinlen@nutrien.com
Harry Kenney DE, MD/Northern VA 410-375-6148 harry.kenney@nutrien.com
Spring 2019
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Feature Story
New Technology to Improve Turfgrass Management Efficiency?
The Future May Be Here! By James Horton
T
oday’s turfgrass managers have seen unbelievable change in equipment, tools and technology during their careers. New innovations have allowed turfgrass managers to become more efficient with manpower and budgets. The best turfgrass managers have been trained to look for the latest innovations, however small or large, that will give them an edge in performing their jobs. We’ve all seen those new inventions that made huge, positive impacts in our daily tasks. Some seemed so simple that we wished we had thought of it first. Others we didn’t even see on the horizon, and the next one is no exception. In fact, you will have to look skyward to see it coming. Drones are here! It may seem farfetched but in the near future drones may be standard equipment for turfgrass managers across our industry. Sod producers, sports field managers, golf course superintendents, lawn care companies, institutions, etc., may very well own and use drones in conducting daily business, maintenance and sales in the years to come.
Introduction to Drones Satellites and low-altitude aircraft have been commonly used in agriculture, especially row crops, for a variety of reasons, but only minimally in turfgrass due to
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the smaller acreage. However, all types of turfgrass venues could be ideal niches for drones, or more correctly stated, small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS). The word drone was coined from the buzzing hum made by this small aircraft’s propellers, which is similar to that of a male honeybee known as a drone. A grading system is used to classify sUAS by use and delineates which drones are toys and which are not. The grading criteria considers the overall size of the unit (sUAS are defined as weighing 55 pounds or less, while full-scale UAS weigh more than 55 pounds), plus its capabilities such as flight endurance, method of operation and type of payload. There are three categories of sUAS; Hobbyist, Enforcement, and Commercial. The hobbyist grade has been available at almost every hobby and toy store for several years. The enforcement grade is used by military and law enforcement and are not available to the average citizen due to the array of sensors and weapons they could carry. The commercial grade is the type used for agricultural research and by serious pilots for business and profit. The use of drones by turfgrass managers would be considered commercial. The pilotless nature of these unmanned aircraft raised the concern of the Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA) years ago since it has jurisdiction over the National Airspace through its network of air navigation facilities using Air Traffic Control centers and airports. In 2007, the FAA issued a policy that stated “no person may operate a UAS in the National Airspace System without specific authority.” In 2013, the FAA created six UAS testing sites to better understand the use and safety of UAS. The government has primarily been concerned over safety as it relates to crashes, radio frequency, insurance issues and privacy. As usual, government is trying to play catch up with technology. For now, UAS operators/pilots must comply with the FAA’s current licensing policy which has two certifications: Certification of Authorization only for public entities such as government agencies and universities; and for all others a Certification of Airworthiness is required to ensure the aircraft and its systems will not pose a public threat. Incidentally, public entities also are required to attain a Certificate of Airworthiness. Those seeking to operate a drone should first understand the regulatory process to legally pilot a sUAS. To that point, passing Part 107 FAA Drone Pilot Exam is required to pilot commercial sUAS aircraft, and this is not an easy test. In fact, there are study courses that you can pay to take that will prepare you for this test.
Drone directly overhead hovering in flight
Drone Kit containing the DJI Phantom 4Pro V2.0
Other Details You Should Know There are two basic body styles for sUAS: Rotary and Fixed-wing. •R otary drones are helicopter-like, with multiple propellers depending on its size and payload, and can take off from its current position unassisted as long as it has minimal clearance. These aircraft are highly maneuverable and capable of hovering or flying at slow or fast speeds. Two-thirds of all sUAS aircraft are rotary. • Fixed-wing drones are plane-like, vary in size depending on their payloads, and require some kind of launch assistance or runway for take-off. These aren’t used as often as rotary but do offer certain advantages such as longer flight times and greater distances covered. Flying sUAS takes skill and practice since they are controlled remotely using handheld radio controllers equipped with joy sticks to adjust the drones speed, range and attitude via WiFi. It should be noted, the FAA has placed altitude restrictions over the entire country. Drone pilots can use an app called AirMap to see the restrictions. Drones cannot fly above 400 feet so not to interfere with
Remote controller using an iPad to view live camera stream of flight
commercial airplanes, in some areas less and still other areas not at all. In addition, the range of the aircraft is constrained within the Line-of-Sight (LOS) of the pilot or visual observer. This has been an FAA rule, but one that doesn’t seem to be enforced very often. In fact, many new sUAS models now have auto-pilot capability. Auto-pilot software has gotten easier to program and is available to the public. One such software is Arduino. This software works with the pilot manually flying the drone to certain locations and marking the location with GPS coordinates. Once that information is input, along with the desired attitude and speed for the drone to reach each location in the sequence selected, the drone will fly itself and return to the start point. If the drone is equipped with a real-time imaging camera, the image will be seen on the controller’s laptop or IPad. This will allow the remote control operator to virtually sit in the “cockpit” of the drone and see exactly what the drone sees on the controller’s screen. It’s not uncommon for drones to have 20 Megapixel still picture and 4K video camera capability and with lithium batteries supplying 30 minutes of flight time (less in windy conditions) abundant images can be captured.
As you can see, drones have amazing capability and, since they are unmanned, they can handle certain jobs that are considered laborious, routine and in some cases too dangerous for humans. Here is a short list of how drones have been used: Aerial photography; agricultural applications; border surveillance; bio-security; suspect tracking; surveying forest and structure fires; traffic monitoring; disaster response, relief and rescue; damage assessment and surveying; atmospheric and weather research; infrastructure monitoring; wildlife monitoring; power, pipe line and mining surveillance; movie production; aerial news coverage; mail and freight transport; flood mapping; real estate mapping; and sporting event coverage.
Sensors Used by Drones Engineers and system designers have been working with other researchers to meet the growing uses and needs of sUAS users across the many applications they could be used. One of the biggest challenges has been the miniaturization of sensors so that the payload did not over tax the light weight aircraft. Drones normally carry built-in sensors to aid in navigation, collision avoidance and flight operation. Collision avoidance can be turned off to allow the drone
Spring 2019
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Feature Story • continued
to fly closer to objects such as trees or buildings. Additionally, sensors can be added for specific data collection. The type and sophistication of sensors being used in agricultural research is growing with potentially endless types of information being collected. Below are some of the sensors currently being used in agriculture that could have roles in managing turfgrass in the near future. •G lobal Information Systems (GIS) to track the unit’s location during flight and to collect data on a target subject. • RGB Digital Cameras are full frame digital cameras using a variety of special filters to capture red, green and blue (RGB) photons to create a high quality visible-band image. • Modified RGB Digital Cameras are RGB cameras that have been modified with different filters for specific data acquisition. • Multispectral sensors can discriminate specific wavelengths, and use this information compared to correlations
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developed with plant biophysical processes using vegetation indices for specific plant targets being scanned. These scanners can be used for nutrient, water stress, disease, weed and general crop monitoring. • Hyperspectral sensors capture narrow spectral bands over a continuous spectral range, thus capturing more detailed information than multispectral sensors. • Laser scanning can be used to capture the shape of objects, including plants, by steering laser beams in a controlled fashion at the target and then measure the distance at every pointing direction. Lasers have been used in construction and surveying for years and are very accurate for measurements. They can then be used to generate two- and three-dimensional images of the target. A laser system known as LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) is used in forestry to measure canopy cover, biomass, tree count and height. Other laser scanners are used for 3-D mapping.
•T hermal infrared imaging sensors for sUAS are becoming more common as both weight and size are reduced. They are mostly used to monitor water stress and disease detection. • Spectrometer sensors measure the electromagnetic spectrum and can show intensity as a function of wavelength or frequency. One such system is used to assess “soil health”.
Processing the Data This is a relatively new field of study with emerging technology, and researchers are learning how to best use drones to provide fast, affordable and useful surveys. Some of the research approaches are broad-scale, but as time passes, more specific surveys will be designed. Researchers are continuing to develop algorithms and methodology for collecting and analyzing the airborne data being collected by the various specific sensors placed on drones. Phenotyping, spatial
continued • Feature Story
analysis and vegetation indices are all being used to interpret the aerial data being collected per specific surveys. The aerial data is then compared to on-ground tests and observations to make sure the researchers understand the results, and using that understanding, re-calibrate the instruments on board the drone as needed.
So What Can Drones Do For Turfgrass Managers? Current agricultural research, some of which includes turfgrass applications, uses drones to identify, monitor and study the following: • Nutrient Status • Water Stress • Disease Incidence • Weed Infestation • Chemical and Nutrient Applications • Asset Tracking, Management and Mapping • Turf Inventory Management • Species Classification • Crop Yield > Growth, Biomass, Canopy Density • Monitoring of Invasive Grasses and Vegetation, Especially in Remote Areas
•A erial photos of complexes, courses, fields, farms and client lawns • Before and after photos of projects • Use photos as sales promotion • Monitor “grow-in” rates • Monitor sod harvesting • Track and monitor fertilizer and pesticide applications • Monitor research plots • Irrigation system mapping and “as-built” documentation • Monitor health and level of irrigation ponds • Drought stress mapping • Flood plain mapping • Identify weak turf • Document storm damage • Monitor storm damage clean-up • Map persistent disease incident locations • Monitor tree health and identify weak upper limbs or trunks not easily seen
Flying into the Future It’s an exciting time and we’re just at the beginning of this new field of drone-aided data collection. Agricultural research using drones will only increase and as it does, applications will be developed for turfgrass managers to become more efficient with their manpower and budgets. Certainly it won’t take researchers, engineers and designers long to produce newer generations of drones that will do even more tasks accurately, in less time and at a lower cost than conventional methods. With future drone sales predicted to increase exponentially, they may very well become as ubiquitous as the lawn mower. The big question is… Will drones prove as important a game changer as any innovation to date to move turfgrass management efficiency forward? Hummmm…. only time will tell! •
The possible uses for drone photography are endless!
When the day comes that turfgrass managers are able to use drone technology on their fields, courses and lawns, they could more precisely apply chemicals, fertilizers, water and other materials, not to mention more efficient allocation of manpower and assets to give turfgrass exactly what it needs for optimum health and productivity. This approach is known as Precision Agriculture and has the goal of ensuring profitability, providing sustainability and protecting the environment.
Until Then Currently, drones with a good camera can be used by turfgrass managers to view obvious, real time conditions of their turf, but from an entirely different bird’s eye view perspective. Here are some of the ways drones could be used today:
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Developing an NMP for Lost Creek Golf Club
Cover Story
Developing a Golf Course Nutrient Management Plan By Pete Landschoot, Ph.D., Professor of Turfgrass Science
S
uperintendents generally do a good job of monitoring the nutrient status of turfgrass and soil on their golf courses. However, keeping track of nutrient requirements and fertilizer programs on large properties with different turfgrass species, management regimes, soil types, and microenvironments can be challenging. A nutrient management plan (NMP) can help organize all or most of this information into a single document that can be shared with staff members at your facility. It can also demonstrate to club members, neighbors, and community organizations that you are taking an environmentally responsible approach to turfgrass fertilization. A golf course NMP is a document that helps superintendents keep track of the nutrient status of soils and turfgrasses and provides a strategy for meeting the nutrient requirements of turfgrasses through proper application timing and amounts of fertilizer. Nutrient management plans can be relatively simple or complex depending on the goals of your golf course operation. The basic components of a NMP are:
1. A brief description of the topography, geology, and soil types on the golf course, and a map delineating soil types on the property. 2. An inventory of turfgrass species and management regimes, including maps designating greens, tees, fairways, roughs, and environmentally sensitive areas that may require different fertilization programs. 3. A summary of soil test procedures, results, and recommendations for the different management areas of your course, as well as a narrative of your nitrogen fertilization program, including rates, sources, and application timings. 4. A means of recording fertilizer application dates, product names, analyses, sources of nitrogen, rates, and total amounts used. This article gives an example of a NMP that was developed for a golf course in central Pennsylvania. The plan has been simplified due to space limitations, but it provides a stepwise approach to implementing the basic components of a NMP.
In 2017, Penn State faculty worked with Mr. Tom Troutman, superintendent of Lost Creek Golf Club, to develop a NMP as part of a Chesapeake Bay Programfunded watershed improvement project. The primary purpose of this project was to monitor nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer inputs and to stabilize eroding stream banks along Lost Creek. The grant also provided an opportunity to develop an example of a basic NMP for other golf courses in Pennsylvania. Lost Creek Golf Club is located in Juniata County, just north of Rt. 35 in Oakland Mills. The property is approximately 150 acres and is surrounded by dairy farms and some wooded areas. A unique feature of the golf course is Lost Creek, a Class A trout stream, which enters the northeast corner of the course, then proceeds south through a wooded area before cutting through mostly open areas on the southern portion golf course. Lost Creek is an important part of the golf course, creating interest, strategy, and impacting play on about a third of the holes on the course. Lost Creek floods on occasion, and, during periods of peak flow, some stream bank erosion occurs.
Step 1: Description and mapping of topography, geology, and soils
The first step in developing an NMP is to describe and map topography, geology, and soil types on your golf course. Knowledge of land and soil features can help you identify environmentally sensitive sites and delineate areas on the course that may need different types and amounts of fertilizer.
Table 1: Specific soil types on Lost Creek Golf Course. Symbol
Soil map unit names
At
Atkins silt loam Brinkerton silt loam, 0–3% slope Klinesville shaly silt loam, 3–8% slopes Klinesville shaly silt loam, 8–15% slopes Klinesville shaly silt loam, 15–25% slopes Tyler silt Loam
BrA KIB KIC KID Ty
Depth to bedrock (inches) 48–60
0.6–2.0 (moderately low)
Available water capacity (inches water/inch soil) High (0.14–0.22); high water table
Very strongly to strongly acid unless limed
45–65
0.6–2.0 (moderately low)
High (0.18–0.24); water table
Very strongly acid to medium acid unless limed
19
2.0–6.0 (moderately rapid)
Very low (0.08–0.12)
Very strongly acid to medium acid unless limed
19
2.0–6.0 (moderately rapid)
Very low (0.08–0.12)
Very strongly acid to medium acid unless limed
19
2.0–6.0 (moderately rapid)
Very low (0.08–0.12)
Very strongly acid to medium acid unless limed
60
0.6–2.0 (moderately low)
Moderate (0.18–0.22)
Extremely to strongly acid unless limed
Permeability (inches/hour)
Source: USDA Soil Conservation Service. Soil Survey of Juniata and Mifflin Counties Pennsylvania.
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Soil reaction (pH)
Figure 1: Lost Creek Golf Club and surrounding landscape in early spring (left). Google Earth satellite image of Lost Creek Golf Club property (right).
Figure 2: Soil map with unit symbols for Lost Creek Golf Course. Map generated by USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Online Web Soil Survey.
Soil survey manuals are a good source of information on topography, geology, and soil types. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service offers free internet access to soil survey information and map generation at Web Soil Survey https://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda .gov/App/HomePage.htm. Generating a soil map of your golf course takes a little practice, but the Web Soil Survey website provides directions which are relatively easy to follow. Fig. 2 shows a soil map of Lost Creek Golf Club generated with tools on the Web Soil Survey website. Lines surrounding soil type symbols delineate the different soil types on the course. Symbols within the lines correspond to soil types described in the soil survey manual (Table 1). According to the Soil Survey of Juniata and Mifflin Counties, Lost Creek Golf Club has six main soil types: some with high water tables and strong acidity
Figure 3: Map of different management areas for three holes on Lost Creek Golf Course. Areas outlined in red are greens, tees are outlined in blue, fairways are outlined yellow, and areas outside of outlined areas are rough. Map was generated using features in Google Earth.
and some with low water holding capacity that contain shale and are welldrained. Soils with high water tables along Lost Creek are prone to flooding; thus, phosphorus and nitrogen should only be applied when the threat of flooding is low, if at all. Timing of applications on well-drained soils at higher elevations is generally more flexible.
Step 2: Inventory of turfgrass
species and management regimes
The next step in NPM development is to make a list of the different turfgrass species on the property and specify how the turf is used and managed. At Lost Creek Golf Club, putting greens are a mixture of creeping bentgrass and annual bluegrass, whereas fairways, tees, and roughs are composed primarily of perennial ryegrass. Nutrient requirements vary for the different species and management areas.
Putting greens are mowed daily or every other day at a height of 0.135 inches, and clippings are collected and removed from the site. Greens are aerated once per year using a core aerator equipped with hollow tines. The tees at Lost Creek Golf Club are mowed at a height of 0.5 inches three times per week, and fairways are mowed at 0.75 inches three times per week during the golfing season. Clippings are not collected and are returned to the turf. The divot repair soil mixture contains some phosphorus to aid in fast establishment of new seedlings. Rough areas are mowed at a height of 2.25 inches once per week with clippings returned to the turf.
Step 3: Soil & water test results and fertilizer recommendations
Perhaps the most important part of a NMP is testing soil for pH and nutrient content. Monitoring water quality of any
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Figure 4: Grid pattern for collecting 12 subsamples of soil from a putting green.
streams, ponds, or lakes that border or reside on the property is also important and can demonstrate that your fertilizer program is not contributing to degradation of surface waters. However, not everyone has the resources or expertise to monitor water for nutrients, so this information may not be included in some plans. Soil Testing: Prior to 2017, the last time soils were tested at Lost Creek Golf Club was in 2011; thus, a new set of soil tests were needed to determine pH and nutrient concentrations of greens, tees, fairways, and roughs. In April of 2017, soil samples were collected from greens, tees, fairways, and selected rough areas prior to any fertilizer being applied. Twelve subsamples were collected in a grid pattern from each green, tee, and fairway using a 1-inch diameter soil sampling tube inserted 4 inches into the soil (Fig. 4). The 12 subsamples from each sampling area were placed in a bucket, broken apart, and thoroughly mixed prior to placing in the sample container. Samples were analyzed at Penn State’s Agricultural Analytical Services Lab (AASL) for pH and nutrients. Soil tests results and recommendations from AASL were recorded on spreadsheets for all greens, tees, fairways, and certain rough areas. Table 2 shows an example of soil test data from 17 perennial ryegrass fairways at Lost Creek golf course (hole #9 does not have a fairway). Soil test results revealed acidic soils on most fairways, with pH values ranging from 5.44 to 6.03. All fairways received lime recommendations ranging from 50 to 90 lbs/1000 ft2. Soil-test phosphorus values in fairways range from 28 to 83 ppm Mehlich-3 P, and recommendations were for no phosphorus in 11 fairways
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and 1.0, 1.5, or 2.0 lbs phosphate fertilizer/1000 ft2 for the remaining six fairways. Soil potassium concentrations range from 86 to 189 ppm Mehlich-3 K. Four fairways received no potash recommendation, whereas 13 fairways received recommendations of 1, 2 or 3 lbs of potash fertilizer/1000 ft2. Treating fairways individually with only the recommended amounts of lime, phosphorus, and potassium can save money and reduce the chances of applying excessive nutrients. Soils test results and recommendations for greens, tees, and rough areas on the course are not included in this article. In most cases, pH and concentrations of phosphorus and potassium were in the acceptable range for greens and tees. Soils in rough areas were generally acidic and low in phosphorous. Nitrogen recommendations: Soil tests are not reliable for making nitrogen recommendations in turf; thus, general recommendations are based on the primary turfgrass species present in the stand and how the turf is used. Annual applications of nitrogen for putting greens, tees, fairways, and rough areas can range from 2.0 to 4.0 lbs/1000 ft2 per year in Pennsylvania. This range is fairly wide because of differences in the age of turf, mowing frequency/clipping removal, soil root zone composition, rainfall and irrigation amounts, expectations of golfers, and other factors.
Given that the greens at Lost Creek Golf Club are mature and in good condition, nitrogen in the low range (2.0 to 2.5 lbs nitrogen/1000 ft2) was suggested as an annual rate. Annual nitrogen rates for fairways in poorly drained and floodprone areas should be in the low range (about 2.0 lbs nitrogen/1000 ft2 per year or less), and fertilizer should not be applied during periods when the risk of flooding is high. Nitrogen rates for fairways in elevated areas can be slightly higher and should be applied during spring and late summer/early fall. Little to no nitrogen is recommended for rough areas in the poorly drained areas along Lost Creek, unless new turf is established. At Lost Creek Golf Club, financial limitations, wet soils, and environmentally sensitive areas along Lost Creek dictate fewer nitrogen and phosphorus applications and lower rates than commonly used for most Pennsylvania golf courses.
Step 4: Record keeping Most golf course superintendents keep careful records of fertilizer applications on their golf course and these can be inserted into the NMP. Records of fertilizer applications typically include dates, product names and analyses, sources of nitrogen (slow versus quick release), rates, and total amounts used. An example of a fertilizer application spreadsheet for putting greens is
Table 2: Lost Creek Golf Club soil test results for ryegrass fairways; April 2017. Lime recommendation Fairways #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 # 10 # 11 # 12 # 13 # 14 # 15 # 16 # 17 # 18 §
pH (lbs lime/1000 ft2) 5.59 70 5.8 50 6.03 70 5.63 70 5.88 70 5.44 70 5.67 90 5.56 90 6.03 50 5.87 70 5.74 90 5.8 50 5.65 50 5.66 90 5.56 70 5.6 70 5.86 70
Mehlich-3 P§
P recommendation
Mehlich-3 K
K recommendation
(ppm) 48 32 51 46 82 83 54 39 48 42 34 32 28 60 51 45 38
(lbs P2O5/1000 ft2) NONE 1.5 NONE NONE NONE NONE NONE 1.0 NONE NONE 1.5 1.5 2.0 NONE NONE NONE 1.0
(ppm) 189 139 158 131 165 176 175 150 161 114 132 120 86 183 153 149 147
(lbs K2O/1000 ft2) NONE 1 1 1 1 NONE NONE 1 1 2 1 2 3 NONE 1 1 1
ehlich-3 P and Mehlich-3 K = Amount of phosphorus and potassium, respectively, extracted from M a soil sample using the Mehlich-3 extraction solution. This extractant provides an estimate of phosphorus and potassium that is available to turfgrass plants.
Cover Story • continued
provided in Table 3. Record keeping is helpful for tracking fertilizer applications to different areas of the course, and from one year to the next.
Conclusion Other aspects of golf course NMPs not included in this article are procedures for operating and calibrating fertilizer application equipment, containing and cleaning up fertilizer spills, disposal of unused and/or damaged fertilizer products, storage, and monitoring of water resources on the property.
Examples of NMPs for Virginia golf courses can be found at: http://www.dcr. virginia.gov/soil-and-water/document/ nmtmsc-example-golf-npm.pdf and https://cdn.cybergolf.com/images/373/ Sample-NMP-Report.pdf
Nutrient management plans are not required for golf courses in Pennsylvania, but they are mandatory in Virginia, Wisconsin, and some other states. Proposed legislation in Pennsylvania would allow for greater flexibility of fertilizer programs if a NMP and soil testing program is in place. For additional information on developing NMPs see:
Funding for nutrient management plan development and stream bank restoration at Lost Creek Golf Club was provided by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation through the Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Program’s Small Watershed Grants. •
“Turfgrass nutrient planning” by D. Soldat, Univ. Wisconsin Coop. Ext., https://learningstore.uwex.edu/Assets/ pdfs/A3876.pdf.
Table 3: Fertilizer application record sheet Lost Creek Golf Club Management area: Putting greens, tees, and fairways Supervisor/applicator: Tom Troutman Application Date
Fertilizer Brand & Product Name
Formulation & Particle Size (SGN)
Early May, 2017
Andersons Contec DG, 100% MuTech HiVis. 40 lb bag
Granular SGN 75
Analysis %N 13
%P2O5 0
Nitrogen Source(s) & percentages
%K2O 26 1.95% urea 6.50% WSN 4.55% WIN (K source = KSO4)
Rate: lbs/1000 ft2 N 0.3
P2O5 0
K2O 0.6
Total Product Used lbs/1000 ft2 Greens & tees treated (~7 acres); ~704 lbs of 13-0-26 applied
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MTC Turf News
Spring: Covers have been removed. (Uncovered turf still dormant) Stakes keep covers in place in brass grommets at 5' intervals.
Recent Event
Turf Terps Take 3rd Place at STMA Student Challenge and GCSAA Turf Bowl By Geoffrey Rinehart, University of Maryland
3rd place finish in the 4-year competition at STMA
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MTC Turf News
C
ontinuing a tradition which began almost two decades ago, UMD students recently attended the Sports Turf Managers Association annual conference in Phoenix and the Golf Industry Show in San Diego, CA in Jan. Both conferences provided an excellent opportunity to attend presentations from some of the nation’s leading researchers and turf managers, meet fellow students and industry professionals, explore the latest equipment and technologies at the trade shows, and, of course, compete in the STMA Student Challenge and Golf Industry Show Turf Bowl. The competitions consists of 4-student teams tested in categories such as turfgrass, weed, and disease identification; turfgrass math; irrigation; and soil science. This year’s Turf Terps team members were coached by IAA Turfgrass Management Lecturer Geoffrey Rinehart and Athletics Dept. Assistant Grounds Manager Alex Steinman and included veterans Brendan Keane (4-year), Max Sturges (IAA), Clayton Young (IAA), and newcomer Ben Word (4-year). The Terps placed 3rd out of 21 teams competing in the 4-year competition of the Student Challenge and 3rd place out of 50+ teams at the Turf Bowl, garnering a $1,000 check for the IAA Turfgrass program. In addition to the conference activities and education, the students had the opportunity to visit State Farm Field, home of the Phoenix Cardinals, and took a tour guided by head groundskeeper Andy Levy. The field is truly unique as one of the only retractable field in the country that can be “wheeled in and wheeled out” of the stadium and the visit enabled students to broaden their knowledge and perspective as they learned what it takes to maintain this high level field with varying multiple events in a challenging environment. Many thanks to the Maryland turfgrass industry including the MTC, MTA, MAAGCS, and MASTMA for their support of our “Turf Terps!” •
UMD students at State Farm Stadium in Phoenix during STMA
Spring 2019
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Rick Boldissar MDA / Turf & Seed Section Chief Annapolis, MD 410-841-5960 Rick.boldissar@maryland.gov Mark Carroll, Ph.D. Dept. of Plant Science & Landscape Architecture University of Maryland College Park, MD 301-405-1339 mcarroll@umd.edu Pete Dernoeden, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus University of Maryland College Park, MD 301-405-1337 pd@umd.edu Dave Funk Manager, Paint Branch Turfgrass Research Facility University of Maryland College Park, MD 301-403-8195 dfunk@umd.edu Kevin Mathias Ph.D. Professor Emeritus University of Maryland/IAA College Park, MD 301-405-4692 JKM@umd.edu Geoffrey Rinehart Institute of Applied Agriculture University of Maryland College Park, MD 301-405-4692 GJRinehart@gmail.com Joseph Roberts, Ph.D. Dept. of Plant Science & Landscape Architecture College Park, MD 301-405-4355 robertsj@umd.edu Tom Turner Ph.D. Professor Emeritus University of Maryland College Park, MD 301-403-4431 tturner@umd.edu
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MTC Turf News
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